Suction cleaner



March 29, 1938. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheetl fiz/emizw -Donald 6. 5277 77232. @74

March 29, 1938. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 28, 1950 Patented Marf29, 1938 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, asslgnor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 28, 1930, Serial No. 456,388

' 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and particularly to improvements in suction cleaner agitating means. i

Theadvantages of the suction cleaner whic effects positive agitation over the suction, cleaner which relies solely upon air to do the cleaning are well defined. In the straight-air machine as the machine -passes over the covering undergoing cleaning the lips of the nozzle contact said cover- 10 ing and the air drawn into said nozzle by action of the motor-drivenv fan removes the dirt or foreign matter therefrom at the point of contact. The cleaning air, however, in the absence ,of positive assistance cannot penetrate into the body of the surface covering and consequently has no opportunity to remove the dirt which is deeply embedded therein but is able to remove only the loosely embedded particles at or near the top of said covering. In the machine embodying positive 7 agitation the surface covering is vibrated and flexed, the foreign particles embedded in the surface covering are thereby loosened and the cleaning air is better able to remove the same. In the ordinary cleaner embodying positive agitation however no means are incorporated which positively provide open pathways for the cleaning air into the body of the covering so that it may reach to the deeply embedded foreign particles.

The ordinary positive agitation cleaner, al

30 though a more eflicient cleaner than the straight,

air cleaner, is itself open to the objection that, while it breaks up the hardened masses of foreign matter in a surface covering it provides no positive means to insure that the cleaning air will 35 penetrate into the covering to a sufficient depth to remove all of said particles. Because of the resistance to air flow through 'the pile of the surface covering the air in entering the suction no'zzle will penetrate therein to a minimum depth and itis necessary that means be provided which direct the air into the covering.

The ordinary positive agitation cleaner is also open to objection in that the points at which the agitation of the surface covering takes place are removed from the points at which the cleaning air is effective. Theoretically maximum cleaning efficiency is obtained when thepoint of positive agitation of the surface covering and the pointat which the cleaning air is effective are coinci- 10 dent. The present suction cleaner provides, through a new and novel design, a construction in which positive agitation is provided for the suction covering; in which positive means are provided which open a pathway for the cleaning 5 air to the deeply embedded foreign particles in the surface covering; and in which the point of agitation is coincident with the point of air cleaning effectiveness.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a suction cleaner in which a more 'emcient surface covering agitating means is provided. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cleaner in which the agitation of the surface covering occurs at the point at which the cleaning air is effective. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a suetion cleaner in which positive means are incorporated which insure an open pathway for the cleaning air into the surface covering. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading the accompanying specification, reference being had to the drawings annexed thereto.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention with certain parts broken away upon the line Il of Fig. 3, to show the power transmission mechanism.'

. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the cleaner disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the cleaner disclosed in Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a partial end view of thecleaner shown in Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section upon the line '5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '1 discloses a modified embodimentof the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the modification dis-. closed in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail showing of a flexible mounting.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in particular a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated by the reference character I. usual motor casing 2, fan casing 3 forming the fan chamber 4, suction nozzle 5, front supporting wheels 6, 6 and a rear supporting wheel 1. The motor casing 2 houses a driving motor which drives the fan 8 positioned within the fan chamber 4 upon the motor shaft 9.

The aforedescribed parts comprise those parts found in the usual suction cleaner.

Positioned within the mouth of the nozzle 5 and extending therefrom are front and rear nozzle lips Ill and I! respectively whiciriare pivotally mounted and, in the operation of are cleaner, are provided with an alternate rotaryinovement The suction cleaner i comprises the through a small arc as hereinafter described. Each of the lips l and II is in two parts or sections and each part extends from one end of the nozzle to a central supporting member in which it is pivotally mounted. Each lip member is mounted upon an axis I2 and is fixedly secured thereon by means of securing rivets or screws H, as shown in Fig. 6. The lips I0 and II are made of thin metal strips which are wrapped around the supporting axes l2 and the overlapping ends thereof are secured by rivets l5, l5 to the main portion of said lips. Clamped between the main portion of each lip member and the overlapping edge thereof is a. flexible strip l6 of fabric which extends the length of said lip member and is sealed along its opposite side to the wall of the nozzle 5 and so functions to prevent air leakage between the lip to which it is attached and the adjacent nozzle wall. Clamping members l1, H which are drawn tightly against the exterior surface of the nozzle by securing screws, I3, l8 serve to secure each sealing strip to the nozzle wall. At the outer ends of the lips l0 and H the supporting axes I2, I 2 are provided with bearing supports .|9, |9 positioned in plates 20, 20 which are secured to nozzle ends by securing means 2|, 2|, as

shown in Fig. 3, said plates 20, 20 each being provided with a lubricant reservoir 22 to insure the life of the bearing member l9. Positioned between and supporting the two interior ends of each half section of the nozzle lips is the powerreceiving mechanism indicated generally by the reference character.23,-(see Fig. 5). Mechanism 23 comprises a main body 24 which is provided with upstanding lugs 25-and 25 which are adapted to be secured to the side walls of the nozzle 5 by means of securing lugs or screws 21 and 28 respectively. The member 23 is positioned within the opening 29 in the nozzle 5 and its lower face 30 extends in the plane of the nozzle lips ID and Positioned within the power-receiving mechanism 23, (see Fig.- 5), are toggles 3| and 32'seated within bearings 33 and 34, respectively, formed in the body 24. Extending horizontally within the body 24 in the guideway 35 of the power-receiving mechanism 23 is the shaft 36 actuated by the suction cleaner motor as hereinafter described. The toggles 3| and 32 extend into theguideway 35 and are positioned within the recess 31 provided in the shaft 35. The recess 31 is provided with bearing surfaces 38 and 39 at its respective ends for the projecting rounded ends of the toggles 3| and 32. Positioned within the groove 3'! and between the projecting ends of the toggles 3| and 32 are the members 4|] and 4| provided with surfaces 42 and 43 which cooperate with the surfaces 38 and 39 respectively to form seats for the projecting ends of said toggles. A spring 44 positioned between bearing members 40 and 4| serves to force said members resiliently, and at all times into contact with the projecting ends of the toggles.

The body 24 is provided with a bottom plate 45 .which issecured thereto by means of securing screws, 46. The member 45 is provided with a smooth undersurface 30 which provides a surface-contacting area in a plane with the edges of the nozzle lips.

The drive shaft 36 projects rearwardly from the power-receiving mechanism 23 (see Fig. 1), under the fan casing 3, through the enclosing housing 41 and into the chamber formed therein. The end of the shaft 36 is provided with a yoke 49, as shown in Fig. 2, which provides a bearing for a projecting driving crank 50. The motor shaft 9 is provided, within the motor casing and di e y above the chamber 48, with a worm gear 5|. Supported by the hollow column 52, as shown in Fig. 1, and rotatably mounted therein is the driven shaft 53 provided at its upper end with the worm gear 54 in mesh with the driving gear 5| on the shaft 9. The lower end of the driven shaft 53 is provided, within the chamber 43, with an of!- center projecting pin or crank- 50 which projects, as aforedescribed, within the yoke 49 on the end of the shaft 35.

In the operation of the cleaner, as constructed in accordance with this invention, as the cleaner is passed over the surface covering undergoing cleaning the suction within the nozzle 5, created by the fan 3 within the fan chamber 4, lifts the surface covering from the supporting surface and into contact with the nozzle lips l5 and H. The nozzle lips l0 and II are pile penetrating lips being relatively thin as compared to the usual nozzle lip, that is, having a thickness of the magnitude of the distance separating adjacent rows of pile of the surface covering or adjacent tufts of the same row of pile. In operation they extend into a covering and separate the adjacent rows or tufts. The inrushing air into the nozzle 5 must pass under the nozzle lips and, because said lips extend into the surface covering, said air in passing thereunder necessarily passes through the covering and near the base thereof. The'nozzle lips, however, are not stationary in the operation of the machine but are actuated at high frequency with an arcuate motion about their axes l2. This high speed arcuate movement of the nozzle lips is provided by the driving motor through the following mechanisms: The vertical shaft 53 is driven from the motor shaft 9 through coaction of the gears 5| and 54. As the shaft 53 rotates the off-center pin or crank 53 carried by said shaft is also rotated and slides, as it rotates, in the yoke 49 of the shaft 35. A reciprocating horizontal movement, the extent of which is determined by the distance at which the pin 53 is offset from the center of shaft 53, is imparted to the shaft 36. At the opposite, or nozzle, endof the shaft 35, are connected the toggles 3| and 32 which, upon the forward and backward movement of said shaft 36, are pivoted in their bearings 33 and 34, respectively. As the inner ends of each axis l2 of each section of the nozzle lips is fixedly seated within one of the toggles 3| and 32 at its center of rotation, the lips receive the same arcuate rotary movement which is imparted to the toggles by the drive shaft 33. 7 It is clear from the foregoing then that as the nozzle lips extend into the surface covering and are moved at a-high frequency through a short arc, the surface covering'is agitated and vibrated, the dirt particles therein are loosened and disintegrated, and their removal by the inrushing air thereunder is made possible.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 a modified form of the present invention is disclosed in which the nozzle lip construction is identical with that disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment. In this embodiment the agitating lips are actuated by means of an electrical vibrat ing unit, indicated generally by the reference character 55, which is mounted upon the fan casing 3 immediately in the rear of the nozzle. An electrically vibrated element 55 is resiliently connected to an arm 51 which in turn is resiliently connected to an arm 53 which is pivoted between its ends at the pivot point 59. The end of the arm 58 opposite to that to which, the arm 51 is connected is resiliently attached to a drive shaft 60 which extends within the powerreceiving mechanism 23 and performs the function'therein which was effected by the drive shaft 36 in the preferred embodiment.

In Fig. 9 there is disclosed an enlarged section of the resilient mountings used in the construction illustrated in Fig. 8. A resilient rubber member 6|, preferably of two parts, is positioned within a seat 62 in the'arm 58 and itself encloses the connecting shaft or pivot pin, here shown to be the arm 51. The natural resilience of the rubber seat permits the relative movement necessary between the parts.

In accordance with the present modification in which the agitating lips are actuated by means of an electrical vibrating unit, the arm 56 is vibrated at a high frequency and within certain definite limits within the vibrating unit. The reciprocating movement of the arm 56 is transmitted through the yielding connection to the lever arm 51 which is yieldingly connected at its end to the pivoted arm 58. The movement of the arm 51 is transmitted by means of the arm 58 to the drive shaft 60 which actuates the toggle mechanism 23, shown in Figure 5, which in turn actuates the nozzle lips. This embodiment differs from the preferred embodiment only in the driving means for the agitating lips.

From, theforegoing it is seen that applicant has provided a new and novel suction cleaner construction in which the function of positive agitation and cleaning by the use of air have been combined to produce maximum cleaning efiiciency. A construction has been provided which is characterized by new and novel agitating means and in which the cleaning air is directed to the base of the surface covering at the point of agitation, thereby making possible the removal of foreign matter that would otherwise remain embedded therein.

I claim: p I

1. A suction cleaner including a-rigid nozzle defining a nozzle mouth and a nozzle lip movably mounted thereon, and means to positively actuate said lip relative to the suction nozzle.

2. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means a nozzle open to said suction-creating means and having a surface-facing mouth, a nozzle lip pivotally and non-rotatably mounted on said nozzle for continuous surface covering contact and defining a side of said mouth, the pivotal axis of said lip being so positioned that said lip can assume a multiplicity'ofangular positions during its contact with the surface covering.

3. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle and a nozzle lip thereon, said nozzle lip being pivotaily mounted, and means to positively actuate said lip relative to the suction nozzle to function as surface agitating means.

4. In a suction cleaner a rigid nozzle defining a nozzle mouth, nozzle lips movably mounted upon said nozzle at the sides of said mouth, a toggle mechanism connected to said movable lips and means to actuate said toggle mechanism and so move said. lips relative to said nozzle.

5. In a suction cleaner adapted to lift the surface covering against the nozzle lips, a nozzle defining a nozzle mouth, a penetrating nozzle lip movably mounted on said nozzle at said mouth and adapted to extend into said surface covering. I

and actuating means operatively connected to said nozzle lip to move said nozzle lip relative to the suction nozzle and to the surface covering.

6. In a suction cleaner adapted to lift the surface covering against the nozzle lips, a nozzle, a nozzle lip pivotally mounted within said nozzle, a nozzle-lip-actuating mechanism com-v prising a toggle connected to said nozzle lip and a driven shaft connected to said toggle, said mechanism imparting a reciprocating arcuate movement to said lip, ,and means to actuate said shaft.

7. In combination in a suction cleaner a rigid Izle, a nozzle lip pivotally mounted on said nozzle, an electrical vibrator mounted on said body. and means operatively connecting said vibrator to said lip.

10.- In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a lip movably mounted on said nozzle, a

' vibrator including a moving element mounted on said body. and means including resilient portions connecting said element to said lip.

11. In a suction cleaner, a bodyincluding a nozzle having a mouth, spaced movably mounted lips defining the sides of the mouth of said nozzle, power-transmitting means connected to said lips, and actuating means connected to said power-transmitting means to move said lips relative to said nozzle.

12. In a suction cleaner, 8. body including a rigid nozzle having a mouth, a movably mounted lip defining a side of the mouth, means sealin said lip to said nozzle, and means to actuate said lip relative to said nozzle.

13. In a suction cleaner, a body including a rigid nozzle having a mouth, spaced movably mounted lips defining the sides of the mouth of said nozzle, and means to synchronously actuate said lips-- relative to said nozzle. I

14. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, an air passageway opento said suctioncreating means and having a working end adapted to be placed adjacent a surface covering undergoing cleaning, a reciprocating agitating element movably mounted adjacent said passageway and so positioned relative thereto that air passes between the element'and a surface covering undergoing cleaning in entering said pas-- sageway, and vibrating means connected to said agitating element to actuate said element.

15. The combination with a cleaning tool having an unobstructed suction inlet and parallel lips forming two sides of said suction inlet, of

electrically actuated means for vibrating one of said lips with reference to the tool.

16. A floor tool having an unobstructed suction inlet, floor-engaging li'ps at the margins of said inlet, and means for rapidly vibrating one of the lips of said floor tool in operative relation to the suction inlet.

DONALD G. sum-rm.

nozzle, a thin pile penetrating lip adapted to 

